Apparatus for manufacturing oil or water gas



Patented May 23, |899.

ma Noms versus co. mom-mmc. wAsHmaroN. n c,

'BQ gw 9 m d w w x G C U.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. MOYNI'HAN, OF STONEHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING OIL OR WATER GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,588, dated May 23, 1899.

applicateurs@ January 5, 1899.

To CLZZ whom it may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MOYNIHAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Stoneham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacturing Oil or Water Gas, of which the followingis a'speciiication.

My invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing oil or water gas; and it consists of a preferably circular retort consisting of an outer wall of fire-brick and an inner wall of iron, said retort being preferably provided with an observation-tube, around which is arranged a baiiling or refractory material, and preferably series of plates nearly filling said retort, said baffling material herein shown as a checker-work of brick, a space being left at its upperend to'form a mixing-chamber. Around this retort is an outer casing of firebrick, forming a fuel-chamber or generator having near its lower end a circular grate, the space between the outer casing andthe retort being supplied with fuel to produce the heat re- -quired within the retort, into which oil, steam,

and air may be admitted as will be desired.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of an apparatus for manufacturing gas embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on lineof Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on line y y of Fig. l.

A represents `the circular outer wall of the fuel-chamber or generator. In the center of the inclosed space is arranged a retort B, formed of an outer wall of refractory materials, such as fire-brick, lined on the inside with an iron shell Z9. i

C is a circular grate arranged between the outer wall A and the retort B, and D is the ash-pit, from which extendY exhaust-pipes E to create a draft to support combustion of the fuel. The retort B is closed at its upper end by an iron cap d, protected on the outside by iire-brick, and through which passes, as herein shown, an observation-tube G, that extends down nearly to the bottom of the retort. The retort B is also provided with supportin g-bars Serial No. 701,180. (No model.)

F, carried in their central portion by a Wall F'. Upon the top of the bars F and around the observation-tube Gis arranged a series of rows of refractory brick c, set edgewise, with a space between each row, upon the top of which is arranged another series of rows of bricks set at right angles thereto, a space being left between each row, and upon which is another series of rows of bricks set at right angles thereto, with a space between each row, and upon which is placed a plate CZ, that covers about three-quarters of the diameter of the retort and upon which brickwork, as before described, is placed, which is covered by plates, the opening between the plates and side of the retort being opposite to that of the first plate. The retort is filled nearly to the top with refractory brick and plates, as described, the space between the straight edges of the plates and the side of the retort alter nating, so as to cause the gases to pass through the retort in a serpentine form. Above the top row of brick and the top of the retort is a space H, that is utilized as a mixing-chamber.

I I are pipes by which hydrocarbon oil, superheated steam, and air may be injected into the retort B. t

J is a metal plate forming a cap or cover for the apparatus and is provided with openingsjjj, fitted with covers la, by which fuel can be supplied as required.

The observation-tube Gr is fitted .at its upper end with a removable cap or plug g, so that when fuel is introduced into the generator dirt and dust will be prevented from passing into said tube, but when it is desired to ascertain the heat of the retort said cap or plug can be easily removed, when the observer, owing to the downdraft in the generator, can look down the tube and by its color ascertain the heat, therebyenabling the operator to control the heat of the retort, so as to bring it to the best required for the production of gases that it is desired to create in said retort, the degree of heat desired being obtained by manipulation of the drafts of the generator.

The top of the retort B may be provided IOO said covers are in place there will not be any connection between the retort B and the fuelchamber M, but when they are removed Watergases produced in the f nel-chamber may pass into the retort B.

N is the gas-main by which the gas from the retort passes off to a gas-receiver.

' P is an air-pipe to supply air to the under side of the retort B to commingle with the gas as it passes off by the main pipe N.

Q Q are drip-pipes to carry off any tar that may accumulate in the apparatus or gas-main, and T is a manhole by which access can be had to the under side of the retort B, if required. 'l R are doors to give access to the'fuel-cham- `ber or generator for cleaning or other ypurposes.

I In the-manufacture of oil-gas the covers of theports L at the top of the retort are to b 'e put in place, so as to prevent connection between the retort B and the fuel-chamber :1

generator M. The covers 7s of theopenings j are removed and fuel is fed into the chamber M to the desired height, and one or morge ofthe covers are left open suflicient to alloyv -the required amount of air `to pass in anfd `through the fuel to the exhaust-pipe E, that i 1s connected to an exhauster. (Not showni) combustion, the Waste gases being also car ried`oif by said exhaust-pipe.

Thus a draft is created sufficient to support The pipe I1 being closed by a suitable valve, (not show f inthe drawings,) hydrocarbon oil and, if desired, superheated steam and air may be in- A74troduced into the retort B through pipes I, yandthe heat of the fuel in cham-ber M Will off by the main pipe N. i

cause same to `be converted into gas, Whicjh passes'down through the-spaces between thge brickwork and plates in said retort and passes In the'manufacture of Water-gas fuel i supplied to thefgenerator M and brought to ia able valve. (Not shown' in the drawingsi) r1Superheated steam is then introduced indo and above the fuel in the generator throng@ pass off by a pipe S.

proper heat, as before described. The covers k are then adjustedv to close the openings and the exhaust-pipe E is closed-by a suit- Ythe-pipes g fand when formed into gas ma If'is desired to produce a combined oil and v Water gas, the pipe S is closed and the por s r inthe 'retort B are opened, so that the Water- I mingle with the oil-gas as it passes through H-the retort B, and in this case carbureted KJmay be manufactured.

' If desired, the oil-gas and the Water-gets may be madeseparately and carried off to aV gas Will pass through said ports and conisuitable mixing-chamber outside of the gelierator, the Water-gas-passing off through the pipe S and the oil-gas through the pipe N. i

It will be seen that` by this apparatus oilgas and Water-gas maybe separately made and, ifV desired, mixed outside of the apparatus, or the apparatus can be used to manufacture carbureted Water-gas, in which case the retort acts as a carbureting and fixing chamber.

I prefer to use the observation-tube; but I do not desire to limit my invention in this respect, as the apparatus is capable of use for manufacturing gases Without necessarily employing the observation-tube.

What I claim is" 1. An apparatus for making gas for illuminating or heating purposes, a retort or gasgenerator, an observation-tube passing down into same, said tube being surrounded by brickwork and plates as described, in combinationwith an outer fuel-chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. An apparatus for making oiland water gas for illuminating or heating purposes, a retort surrounded by a fuel-chamber, an observation-tube in said retort, surrounded by brickWork-and plates arranged as described, means for introducing oil, superheated steam and air into said retort, and a pipe at the lower end of the retort for carrying off the gases produced, substantially as set forth.

3. An apparatus for making a combined oiland Water gas for illuminating or heating purposes consisting of a retort surrounded by a fuel-chamber, said retort having an observation-tube surrounded by brickwork and plates as described, and ports at its upper end forming a connection between the retort and fuelchamber, means for introducing oil, superheatedsteam and air into the retort, and superheated steam `into land above the fuel in the outer chamber, the-Water-gaspassinginto theretort through the ports, and commingling with thegases therein, substantially as set forth.

4. An apparatus for making oilgas and Water-gas at the same time, said gases being distinotand free to be carried'off independently of each other, said apparatus consisting of a retort surrounded by a fuel-chamber, the retort lhaving an observation-tube whereby the heat of the retort can be ascertained, means for introducing oil, superheated steam and air into said retort, means for causing the-oil-gas produced to pass off from the bottom of the retort, and means for introducing su perheated steam into and above the fuel to produce Water-gas that is carried off at the top of the fuel-chamber, substantially as set forth.

5. In an-apparatus for making gas for illuminating or heating purposes, a retort surrounded bya fuel-chamber, ports at the upper end of the retort, doors or covers for said ports wherebygas may be made in both chambers and caused to commingle in the retort, or be carried off independently, as set forth.

6. An apparatus for making gas for illuminating or heating purposes consisting of a retort surrounded by a fuel-chamber, ports at the upper end of the retort form-inga connection between said retort and fuel-chamber, Covers for said ports, means for introducing IIO oil, superheated steam and airinto the retort, and superheated steam into and above the fuel in the outer chamber, means for causing a downward draft through the fuel, and means for carrying off the gases, substantially as set forth;

7. In an apparatus for manufacturing gas, a gas-generator provided with grate-surface to support the fuel within said generator, a retort located within said generator, and surrounded by the fuel therein, an oil-inlet extending from outside of the generator into said retort, baffling or refractory material within said retort, and a gas-outlet for the retort, extending to the outside of the generator, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus for manufacturing gas, an upright gas-generator provided with an airinlet and a gas-outlet, and havinggrate-surface upon which the fuel is supported, an upright retort located within said generator and surrounded by the fuel therein, an inlet for said retort, and a gas-outlet for the retort exy tended to the outside of the generator, substantially as set forth.

9. In an apparatus for manufacturing gas, an upright gas-generatorprovided with an airinlet and a gas-outlet and having a grate-surface upon which the fuel is supported, an upright retort located within said generator and extended above and below said grate-surface, an inlet for said retort, and a gas-outlet for said retort extended to the outside of the generator, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. MOYNIHAN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. STEERE, EDWIN PLANTA. 

